I have 2 columns of numbers. I want to highlight the 4 lowest numbers in the
2 columns. For example, a1=90, a2=100, a3=0, b1=100, b2=100, b3=0, b4=0,
b5=0. In this example, I would want a3, b3, b4, b5 to be highlighted in some
color because they are the 4 lowest numbers out of the 2 columns.

what version of excel do you have?

"excelguy" wrote:

I have 2 columns of numbers. I want to highlight the 4 lowest numbers in the
2 columns. For example, a1=90, a2=100, a3=0, b1=100, b2=100, b3=0, b4=0,
b5=0. In this example, I would want a3, b3, b4, b5 to be highlighted in some
color because they are the 4 lowest numbers out of the 2 columns.

I am using excel 2003

"MartinaPa (MCT)" wrote:

what version of excel do you have?

"excelguy" wrote:

I have 2 columns of numbers. I want to highlight the 4 lowest numbers in the
2 columns. For example, a1=90, a2=100, a3=0, b1=100, b2=100, b3=0, b4=0,
b5=0. In this example, I would want a3, b3, b4, b5 to be highlighted in some
color because they are the 4 lowest numbers out of the 2 columns.

So you can use conditional formatting for whole range by following formula:
=OR(SMALL($A$1:$B$5;1)=A1;SMALL($A$1:$B$5;2)=A1;SM ALL($A$1:$B$5;3)=A1;SMALL($A$1:$B$5;4)=A1)
Don't forget to set color for formatting.

"excelguy" wrote:

I am using excel 2003

"MartinaPa (MCT)" wrote:

what version of excel do you have?

"excelguy" wrote:

I have 2 columns of numbers. I want to highlight the 4 lowest numbers in the
2 columns. For example, a1=90, a2=100, a3=0, b1=100, b2=100, b3=0, b4=0,
b5=0. In this example, I would want a3, b3, b4, b5 to be highlighted in some
color because they are the 4 lowest numbers out of the 2 columns.

=SMALL($A$1:$B$3,4)
Will give you the 4th smallest number in the range A1:B3.

So you could select A1:B3 (with A1 the activecell) and check to see if the value
in the cell is less than or equal to that 4th smallest number:

=a1<=small($A$1:$B$3,4)


excelguy wrote:

I have 2 columns of numbers. I want to highlight the 4 lowest numbers in the
2 columns. For example, a1=90, a2=100, a3=0, b1=100, b2=100, b3=0, b4=0,
b5=0. In this example, I would want a3, b3, b4, b5 to be highlighted in some
color because they are the 4 lowest numbers out of the 2 columns.

--

Dave Peterson